In this study, CeO2-MgO nanopowder was synthesized via co-precipitation method using cerium (III) nitrate hexahydrate and magnesium nitrate hexahydrate as precursors, and aqueous ammonia solution as a precipitating agent. The Taguchi experimental design has been used to optimize the critical parameters to achieve a smaller particle size of CeO2-MgO nanopowder. The studied parameters were pH, temperature, and concentration of soluble elements. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray diffraction revealed that MgO and CeO2 phases were formed. The determined optimum operating conditions were a pH value of 11, temperature of 5 and concentration of 0.1 M. Under these optimal conditions, average particle size of 30 nm has been obtained.

Keywords: nanoparticle, co-precipitation, magnesia-ceria, Taguchi method

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